Alvarez charged with attempted murder

COLDWATER — Edgar Alvarez, 25, is facing prison again — now charged with attempted murder and assault after an incident in Quincy on May 2.

Quincy Police Department Officer Roy Shutts was called that night to 90 West Chicago St. around 9:30 p.m.for a damage to a vehicle report at the home of Kourtnay Walls. There, Shutts was told Alvarez had been at the house — drunk and reportedly had he taken out a knife and held it over his head while chasing Walls and Matt Stauffer and shouting "I’m going to kill you."

Alvarez had fled the scene but Shutts recovered the knife he was alleged to have threatened Walls and Stauffer with and that the pair told Shutts Alvarez used to damage the vehicle.

Walls and Stauffer said they knew Alvarez and said he had a tendency to become violent when he was drunk.

After Alavrez was arrested Monday night on a warrant, Branch County District Judge Brent Weigle set a $300,000 bond for him. Alvarez who said he would hire his own attorney to defend him for the life offenses for the attempted murders.

He also faces 10 years for an assault on Stauffer.

Alvarez was charged as a second habitual offender after a prior conviction. Branch County Circuit Judge Bill O’Grady sentenced the Coldwater man to 16 months to two years in prison in August 2012 for possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.

While serving his original six months in jail on work release, Alvarez violated conditions of his release and had 60 more days added.

Probation officer Amy Hutchins said Alvarez continued to use drugs — both cocaine and marijuana — after his release from jail.

Originally Alvarez had been arrested for a traffic violation in June 2009 while leaving a known drug house in Bronson. Inside his car was 4.5 pounds of marijuana he said he planned to sell.